Chapter 94. Various Rewards (2)
★ Center of the Three Primary Colors
⦁ Chaos Imbue
Chaos, with the effect of combining three or more elements, and even merging with opposing attributes. Verden, after finishing the Appraise, put on the artifact.
A strange sensation coiled around his mana circuit.
'To think I'd actually receive an artifact.'
Even now, it was hard to believe.
That was how important this matter was to the Duke, no doubt. Verden could faintly understand the sentiment, but it was not something he should be deeply involved in.
Artifact, and even a rune weapon at that.
He hadn't done this expecting a reward, but he couldn't help feeling pleased. To gain not one, but two things money couldn't buy.
In less than a year since arriving at the duchy, he had already obtained too much.
Verden left the marquis's villa after a while, heading for a wide plain.
Having obtained new equipment, he had no choice but to test it. First was the staff called Oculus.
He concentrated mana.
On the sky-blue crystal, a barrier formed of mana. As he swung it, a shockwave burst out and struck the empty air.
Perhaps because it bore high-level rune script, its power was greater than that of a 2nd-tier spell like Shockwave, even though he had handled it lightly.
If so, what of its maximum power?
Verden poured mana into it, up to the limit Oculus would allow. Then the crystal resonated, harmonizing with Verden's mana circuit.
Gripping the staff with both hands, he thrust it forward.
─────Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa!
The air twisted in an instant, the ground split open in a straight line.
Verden looked upon the ruined plain with pure amazement.
"...This is beyond expectation."
In sheer destructive force, it was on par with a mid-5th tier spell. Yet, no shock was transmitted to the wielder, Verden.
Though the casting took long outside the scope of his Mystic Eyes, making its practical use uncertain.
Even so, he was satisfied.
With Oculus alone, Verden's close-combat ability had risen by more than two levels.
'Next is the Center of the Three Primary Colors.'
Unlike Oculus, this one had to be handled with caution.
As the Duke had warned, merging more than three elements and combining opposite attributes was dangerous.
'First, I need to understand the artifact.'
Start slowly, from the lowest tier, the 1st.
That way, even if it failed, the backlash could be minimized.
He cast an Earth Arrow as the medium.
Then overlaid a small flame. This much was basic composite magic. He then added wind magic, a compatible attribute.
In that moment.
Kwaang!
An explosion engulfed Verden.
Immediately he spread a barrier with Telekinesis, dispersing the impact.
A clear failure.
But in the process, Verden found a hint. From the magic theory and experiments he had accumulated, came an almost instinctive realization.
'Elements don't fit together like puzzle pieces.'
That was the basic foundation.
But naturally existing elements and elemental magic were different.
Take lightning, for example.
Naturally occurring lightning bears no physical force, yet lightning created with mana carries physical impact.
Elemental magic, with the factor of mana, could become more diverse.
That was why composite magic existed.
To make phenomena that did not occur naturally possible through manipulation of mana. Like lightning imbued with flame, or a lightning strike carrying the attribute of ice.
'But even that has its limits.'
Compatibility among elemental magics.
Flame could not be combined with water or ice, and lightning could not be infused into earth. That was the law of the world. To make it possible, some external factor beyond mana was required.
Yet the Center of the Three Primary Colors produced no effect.
'Which means....'
He had misunderstood the artifact from the start.
The moment he realized this, one possibility surfaced in Verden's mind. Yes, it could only be this.
Verden immediately put it into action.
And soon, at his fingertips, a translucent arrow was formed. When fired into the ground, it pierced deep and flames blossomed forth.
The heat of flame.
The hardness of earth.
The freedom of wind.
It had no physical body, yet bore impact and carried flame.
A spell that did not exist, could not exist. Chaos itself. At last, Verden understood the artifact.
'This is not merely merging elements. It is extracting the traits of each elemental magic, and reassembling them into something new.'
The premise had been wrong from the beginning, no wonder it failed.
Most mages would never be able to figure this out.
'The average mage would never have the creativity to disassemble and reconstruct spells. They wouldn't even imagine it.'
Who in the world had created such an artifact?
Surely a craftsman with a mind more flexible than Verden's. Or simply a madman.
"Whew...."
Verden pressed his temple.
Even for him, extracting and reassembling each spell's traits was no easy task. His mana circuits had grown rather fatigued.
Unless he trained enough to grow accustomed, he could never dream of using it in real combat.
Still, it was undeniably a great achievement.
If done well, it would grant him yet another trump card, in addition to the Celestial Spells Meteor and Comet.
'Now, all that's left is to reach the 5th tier.'
Verden returned to the villa.
After a few more experiments on the Center of the Three Primary Colors and Oculus, he planned to leave for Cohen in several days.
'Before that, I should stop by Count Rodenmeyer.'
Verden wrote a short letter and sent it to the count's manor. No reply came. If the count himself was absent, or refused his visit, then the knights would not permit entry.
Even so, since it was along the way, it would not be a waste of time.
***
Thus, when he arrived at the count's territory, the knights opened the gates at once.
As Verden waited in the reception room, the door burst open and the count appeared. Unlike his usual self, fatigue was written all over his face.
The count rushed in and urgently asked,
"Asher! Tell me right now what happened with Marquis Gardran's family!"
***
What had happened, he asked.
Verden explained obediently. Reciting exactly the version adapted in the Ark, the count's hand trembled violently.
"Th-this…!"
This?
"That madman!"
The count shouted.
As if that wasn't enough, he spewed curses one after another.
"You're saying this happened while trying to solve the disappearance case I entrusted you with?"
Bang!
"You're a mad mage, without doubt!"
The count gasped for breath.
He downed the cold drink brought by a servant in one go, then took a deep breath. Barely calming his rage, the count let out a long, thin sigh.
"...Then let me ask just one more thing. I heard that Marquis Ravishrun's family intervened midway and wrapped up the incident, is that true?"
"I met Marquis Ravishrun's family by coincidence."
"Is that so? Then Marquis Ravishrun's family handled Marquis Gardran and Rupel? That must be it, right?"
"Marquis Gardran was dealt with directly by Marquis Ravishrun."
"...And Rupel?"
"I, personally..."
"What?"
The count blinked.
"You're saying you personally killed Rupel, the commander of the 3rd Central Knight Order?"
Verden nodded.
Ah, the count suddenly felt his mind go hazy, rubbing his face with a hand.
It was Count Rodenmeyer himself who had, through Pale, commissioned Verden.
Who would have thought it would snowball to reach the marquis's family? No, not just reach, but destroy them entirely. Not even Count Rodenmeyer had dreamed things would turn out this way.
"My god..."
The count groaned.
Even if there had been justification, the mage he commissioned had killed a marquis's heir. Fortunately, thanks to Marquis Ravishrun's intervention, the royal capital seemed to have accepted it, but it had been truly dangerous.
Mana stone mines? Silver mines?
This was no time to care about such things.
Had there been any misunderstanding, he could have been branded the villain behind the assassination of a marquis's family, and executed. Along with everyone connected to House Rodenmeyer!
The count ran a hand over his chilled neck.
He took another deep breath, clearing away the distractions. When he finally regained his original emotionless expression, Verden thought,
'There's no need to worry that much.'
What Marquis Gardran's family had done was too great to cover up. Especially in a duchy where the royal capital's power was strong.
The estimated victims numbered over a thousand, and they had murdered the count's knights and even the count himself. Even if Marquis Gardran had lived, he would have been executed.
Though he had been a friend of the Duke, knowing the Duke's character, he was not someone who would show leniency for personal ties.
Rather, Verden's client, Count Rodenmeyer, deserved praise from the Duke.
Still, the count's reaction was understandable.
Being even slightly connected to the extermination of a marquis's family was a heavy burden.
'Would Pale react the same?'
It was Pale who had arranged the commission from the count to Verden.
Perhaps he had felt even dizzier than the count. Pale wasn't even a noble, but an information broker. In some ways, the burden would be greater for him.
Well, whatever the case.
"How will you pay my reward?"
"...You still have your eyes on the reward, at a time like this?"
"That's my work."
"Haa..."
The count let out a sigh.
And thought about the reward. Normally, he would just pay the amount written in the contract. But this matter was far too extraordinary.
He had confronted a marquis's family alone, for the commission. Paying a mere 100 or 200 million Elk wouldn't cut it. Even if it was fair, the count himself was unwilling.
'This is giving me a headache.'
How should he pay?
Paying in cash was impossible with so little available funds. The next year's budget had already been planned with not a margin to spare. Gold or jewels... no, it had to go beyond the value of money.
Then the count's gaze happened to fall on Verden's dagger.
The cheap dagger sheath at his waist was empty.
'Yes, that will do.'
The count rose from his seat, then returned from his chamber carrying a dagger.
A black leather sheath.
When the dagger was drawn, a gray blade, nearly black, was revealed.
"This dagger is made with damascus steel as its base. To it, 13% mithril and 0.6% orichalcum were added. It has no particular magical effects, but it is sharp enough to pierce steel armor or even mana barriers, and won't break even under rough handling. If you apply a bit of Telekinesis, it'll serve as a fine offensive weapon."
Verden received the dagger.
He tapped the blade with a finger. The clear resonance of metal vibrated through.
"This seems far more valuable than what the contract states."
"Of course. It may be only a few grams, but it contains orichalcum. I commissioned you to find the culprit of a disappearance, and you struck down an entire marquis's family. This is a fitting reward. Or do you dislike it?"
"No, it's good."
Though he did need money, the dagger was better.
Besides, his multipurpose dagger had just broken. Verden accepted it without complaint.
"If you've received it, then leave. I need to clear my head."
***
Verden returned to Cohen.
Not much time had passed, but this desolate street already felt like a long time since he'd seen it.
The day was still bright.
Before entering the inn room he had rented long-term at the Beehive's Shelter, he went to see Pale.
Facing Verden, Pale looked just as bad, or worse than Count Rodenmeyer. His face was haggard, his hair unkempt, his whole appearance like that of a man dying.
He rubbed at his eyes, heavy with exhaustion.
"...This is the first time in nearly ten years I've lost so much sleep."
"Count Rodenmeyer was the same."
"..."
Pale closed his mouth.